Meet Me at the Gym: Get a gritty workout at a historic Southwest Florida site

Meet Me at the Gym is an occasional Tuesday column about Southwest Florida group exercise classes. Wellness reporter Shelby Reynolds finds the newest workout crazes, unique locations and the interesting people behind them, then gives it a try so you know what to expect. Have a suggestion? Email shelby.reynolds@naplesnews.com.

Exercise boot camps always seemed so intimidating.

Connie Brazelton, of Bonita Springs, Fla., smiles while shuffling through a ladder sequence while ...more

Connie Brazelton, of Bonita Springs, Fla., smiles while shuffling through a ladder sequence while personal trainer Johnathan Blevins, back left, pushes her on at Koreshan State Historic Site on Monday, May 22, 2017 in Estero, Fla. "He's great about critiquing me and making sure I do the exercises correct," Brazelton said of training with Blevins. "I don't push myself at the gym."

Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

I imagined military-style drills with a screaming drill sergeant and hundreds of pushups and situps.

But at Koreshan State Historic Site — among the stately Spanish oaks and historic structures of the Koreshan colony — I found friendly classmates, an encouraging instructor and a sweaty, down-in-the-dirt workout.

Although I still had to do 70 push-ups.

Johnathan Blevins teaches an hour-long boot camp class at the state historic site three times a week, although he soon plans to start adding more classes throughout the week. A Missouri native, Blevins came to Southwest Florida nearly four years ago and hopes one day to start his own fitness program. The Koreshan boot camp is his place to start.

"It sounds cheesy and cliche, but I enjoy helping people," he said. "This is an incredible opportunity to do that."

As a personal trainer, Blevins said the most rewarding part of his job is watching clients progress and reach their fitness goals, but also at an affordable cost. Prices may change, he said, but for now his class costs $15 for a drop-in, or $100 a month for an unlimited number of classes — a steal compared to most one-on-one sessions with a personal trainer.

Personal trainer Johnathan Blevins has taken years of fitness experience and created a boot ...more

Personal trainer Johnathan Blevins has taken years of fitness experience and created a boot camp-style program for those seeking a different type of exercise at Koreshan State Historic Site on Monday, May 22, 2017, in Estero, Fla. Blevins' routines change from day to day but usually feature plenty of cardio.

Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

"I want to push them but still not push them too far because I want people to come back," he said. "It’s not my goal to kick someone’s ass and then they never want to work out again, but I don’t want them to think it’s easy, so I make modifications for everybody if need be."

Blevins also wanted to make his workouts outside; nothing like the Florida heat and humidity to remind you how out of shape you are.

"I lucked out with the location," he said. "It’s an incredible park."

Cyrus Reed Teed brought his "Koreshanity" followers to Estero in 1894 to start a Utopian community. The colony, called the Koreshan Unity, believed the universe existed within a giant, hollow sphere. Teed died in 1908, and in 1961 the last four members handed over the land to the state. Today, many of the structures and original landscaping remain, and visitors can tour the settlement and fish, picnic, boat and hike on the land.

Trainees sprint during one of the final exercises in a one-hour boot camp session at Koreshan State ...more

Trainees sprint during one of the final exercises in a one-hour boot camp session at Koreshan State Historic Site on Monday, May 22, 2017, in Estero, Fla. Instructor Johnathan Blevins' routines change from day to day but usually feature plenty of cardio.

Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

So on a recent Monday evening, with thunderclouds looming to the east, I tried my first exercise boot camp class on a historic — and arguably haunted — state historic site.

Each of Blevins' classes is different, but they always include cardio and upper and lower body workouts using body weight, handheld dumbbells or ladders. He plans to add tires and ropes soon — more of the traditional "boot camp" equipment.

Blevins first got us warmed up with some simple movements and stretches. We gathered in a small field — a break in the brush — near the signature Koreshan Art Hall. Blevins tuned into a pop playlist and played it through a speaker.

The first routine involved ladders. Blevins had us scaling across the ladders on our hands, in plank position, to work our cores. On another ladder, we squatted and hopped, in and out, in and out. A run down to the cone, a sprint back and do it seven times.

My classmates that Monday evening happened to be all women, a group of friends who bring friends to each class, and I found camaraderie. We joked, laughed and moaned in unison at the running parts.

Next we went to the pavement.

Personal trainer Johnathan Blevins has taken years of fitness experience and created a boot ...more

Personal trainer Johnathan Blevins has taken years of fitness experience and created a boot camp-style program for those seeking a different type of exercise at Koreshan State Historic Site on Monday, May 22, 2017, in Estero, Fla. Blevins' routines change from day to day but usually feature plenty of cardio.

Luke Franke/Naples Daily News

Blevins had us shuffling, frog-hopping and lunging down a section of road, with workouts on our yoga mats in between — pushups and plank jacks, the plank variation with feet jumping in and out.

It was dirty, gritty and just altogether gross. Sweat dripped in the early-summer humidity, and our plank jacks kicked up dirt that then stuck to our sweat.

Next we worked upper body with the dumbbells, interspersed with more running, and I found myself losing steam. I modified a few of the moves, and Blevins didn't mind.

We finished with core and a stretch on the mats. For all my grossness, I left feeling entirely empowered and simply healthy. My muscles were certainly sore for days after that, but it wasn't the hardcore, unfriendly, military-style workout I had expected.

"A lot of people are scared of the boot camp name," Blevins said, "but I don’t want to call it 'easy workout,' and then they never come back because it’s not easy. But usually once people try it, they come out again."

Boot camp at Koreshan State Historic Site

» Sweat scale: Five out of five drops

» What to bring: Bug repellent, a yoga mat you don't mind getting dirty, plenty of water to drink